Abstract: The ship-lift of Goupitan Hydropower Project consists of three-stage ship-lifts. The first and the third stage ship-lifts are the largest submersible vertical ship-lift built or under construction at home and abroad. The lifting power of the main hoist is the largest in China and even in the world; The hoisting height of the second-stage ship-lift is the highest in China and even in the world. The general design scheme of metal structure and mechanical equipment of the three-stage ship-lifts is systematically introduced, and the key technical problems in design process are briefly introduced, including the determination of balance weight, the development of large-scale reducer, the trim stability in ship chamber, etc. The research results can provide a useful reference for the design of the same type of ship lift.